Garden Mama Growing

While I did include a grant list in my February newsletter, I have since found more opportunities to add and figured it made more sense to put them in a post of their own. Here is a list of what I have found so far in seeking funding opportunities that could support school and community garden initiatives within Canada.

CURRENT GRANTS AND DEADLINES

(In order of deadline date and current as of February 5, 2025)

Young Nature Leaders Grant – Nature Canada

Deadline February 18, 2025. A $1,000 grant for “a young person (under 30) to develop and implement a youth-led, community based project centered around nature and sustainability in Canada”.

Local Food Infrastructure Fund – Government of Canada

Current Large Scale projects stream awarding grants from $150, 000 to $500,000 – deadline February 28, 2025. Intake for Small Scale projects from $25,000-$100,000 expected in Fall 2025.

Canada Post Community Foundation Grants

Applications open February 10 and close February 28, 2025. For “Canadian schools, charities and community organizations that make a difference in the lives of children and youth”. Focus areas on Community, Education and Health. Project grants awarded up to $25,000.

Scotts Gro for Good Grant Program

Deadline February 28, 2025 or until 200 applications received. “Gro for Good grants are valued at $2,500 CAD and will be awarded to selected projects across Canada based on community impact, youth involvement and sustainability.” Must be for an edible garden.

Learning Gardens Grant – Nutrients for Life

Deadline to apply is March 1st, 2025. The NFL program provides grants of $500 for school gardens and $3000 for NFL Learning Gardens.

Garden Grant Program – Whole Kids Foundation

Applications open February 5th and close March 5, 2025. “Our Garden Grant program provides a $3,500 monetary grant to support a new or existing edible educational garden located at a K–12 School in the U.S. or Canada.”

Indigenous Foodways in Schools Grants – Farm to Cafeteria Canada and Whole Kids

Deadline of March 28 2025. Offering grants in the range of $500 – $20,000 to Indigenous school communities to establish Indigenous food security in the school setting. For schools in Indigenous communities or with a high ratio of Indigenous students only.

UPCOMING GRANTS

Farm to Cafeteria Canada – Announcement

On January 31, 2025 F2CC announced that it is a recipient of $1.1 million by the Government of Canada from the School Food Infrastructure Fund to be allocated towards “community organizations looking to increase their capacity to deliver school food programs, improve food environments within schools, and strengthen community food security and sovereignty”. Anticipate a call for grant applications in the spring.

Please note that this is a live document and will be updated as new information comes available. Do you know of a current national or provincial grant that could support the development of school or community gardens? Please leave a link in the comments and I’ll add it to the list!

Also, I admin a Facebook group for School Gardeners in Canada. Feel free to join!